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Reviewed by Samantha Coville for Readers' Favorite
The Wild Horses of Hiroshima is a novel by Paul Xylinides. The United State's dropping of an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima left thousands of families in ruins. Myeko's family is one of many who did not survive. She trudges alone through life, living for her son. But as time goes on, the heartbreak and struggle become more real as the nation recognizes her son as a symbol of their tragic history. Elsewhere in the city, performance artist Mura, who has been appointed to perform for visitors to the area, to enlighten them, has an idea. It would be unheard of, but it would make a statement. By unleashing wild horses into Hiroshima, she questions the world. She questions if they would ever again bomb a city that treasures life so greatly. Would they dare? It's a question that begs to be answered and soon.
Japan has always fascinated me and this novel fulfills my hunger to learn more. There are so many notes of the culture here, from the people to the history and from the beliefs to the family units. I do wish the author took more care in slowing down the story just a little bit and giving us time to get all of these foreign names and places straight, but I think the confusion is part of the magic. Hiroshima was confusing for those involved and it wouldn't be right for a reader to feel peaceful while knowing so much death and destruction happened there. This book jars you out of any fantasies of grandeur that you had of war. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and demands to be heard just like the questions Mura asks.
